Lightning — Okaloosa, Florida

1996-04-18 · near (hrt)mary Esther, Okaloosa, Florida

Wider weather episode

Eleven military personnel were working on an aircraft on Hurlburt Field when lightning either struck the aircraft or near the aircraft. One of the airmen was killed and ten others were injured. The personnel had been ordered inside due to thunderstorms around the area earlier in the morning. The airmen were allowed back on the field at 829 am and lightning hit at 838 am. It was likely the strike that hit the airmen was the first strike out of a developing thunderstorm.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 5543619. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.